Inktober Day 3: Urodela

This one was a challenge!
And, boy, salamander skeletons are spooky 💀

I combined a couple of cool elements for this pic!

The species I drew today is the "Reticulated Siren" (Siren reticulata)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reticulated_siren
The reticulated siren is a salamander native to the southeast United States with populations commonly oberved in south Alabama and Florida.
Locals often call them "leopard eels" but they are, in fact, SALAMANDERS!
They feature big, frilled gills a lot like axolotl do. Both species retain the gills from their previous metamorph stage. (most salamanders lose their external, frilly gills upon reaching their adult stage as they venture onto dry land)

Not much is actually known about this species! They are one of the largest salamander species but as of now, there is still a lot to learn about sirens as a species!

Additionally, I paired this rare creature with a tinge of folklore (because Halloween of course!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salamanders_in_folklore
Salamanders are often associated with fire and magic in Medieval and Renaissance lore (S/o to KitsuneIllusion on Twitter for the fire idea! )

materials used:
Kraft paper sketchbook
HB Ticonderoga pencil
POSCA size 1m,  3m (black)
Micron 0.25mm
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(Here's a look at the actual animal)

I had no idea about these things before I started this project! Out in CO we only really have Tiger Salamanders and not much else as far as amphibians since It's so arid! Where I live is actually classified as a "High Altitude Desert".
These squiggly dudes are rather interesting to me! It was challenging but fun to step way out of my comfort zones for this pic and I'd love to revisit it at a later date because, honestly, It doesn't QUITE feel done.

To create this pic I used this website with a 3d model A LOT:  http://www.giantsalamanders.org/sirens.html

Here are some WiP shots. I didn't take a lot this time because I was really struggling through a lot of the start of this image.
This is how we grow as artists, though!
The sketch! This was honestly the easy part..



The start of the lining process! (and a close up for detail. THESE GUYS HAVE SCARY TEETH!)

More lining, more apprehension.. then..

I just kinda WENT AT IT. here's the last WiP pic I took before finishing it up!
You can still see the sketch underneath!

WEW this was an art workout today! I'm ready to relax for the evening!
(I might wanna make some of my future inktober entries.. less intense haha!)
-G